Are Dallas Cowboys 'Sweating' Matchup vs. Philadelphia Eagles Rookie Jalen Carter?
Are the Dallas Cowboys "sweating" about facing an improved Philadelphia Eagles defensive line on Sunday?
It seems ridiculous to even say that the league's best pass rush last season in terms of sacks can be "improved" because, statistically, there is nowhere to go but down. But, much to the dismay of some in Cowboys Nation, the NFL Draft last April was another case of the Eagles muscling their way to success, as they traded up one slot to the No. 9 overall pick to select Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
The former Bulldog, who at one point was projected to go as high as No. 1 overall, fell down the board due to off-field-character concerns. Meanwhile, Dallas did its thing ...
“We all recognize players that we like, coaches and personnel guys,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said afterward about the Eagles pick. “There are good picks by other teams, but I’ve never really sweated what the other guys take.”
Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy next to quarterback Dak Prescott and Philadelphia Eagles rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
USA TODAY Sports
Fast-forward months later, and "sweating" may be the best way to describe the Cowboys' reaction to the defensive line they will face on Sunday. Even before the past draft, it was considered one of the best in the league, which included Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and Haason Reddick. However, the selection of Carter has made them even better.
The former No. 9 overall pick is currently considered the league's best interior pass-rusher, according to ESPN's "pass-rush win rate." Carter leads all defensive tackles with a win rate of 25 percent, which puts him above players like Dexter Lawrence, Aaron Donald and Christian Wilkins.
While the Eagles can feel confident about the potential matchup nightmares they have up front, the Cowboys also have a source of confidence from the play of their offensive guards.
Starting right guard Zack Martin needs no introduction, as the six-time All-Pro has faced his fair share of disruptive interior pass-rushers during his nine-year career. Contrastingly, left guard Tyler Smith doesn't boast the accolades or even the experience of his counterpart, yet he is still playing at a high level in his own right. Pro Football Focus currently has Smith graded out as the best run-blocker among all offensive linemen with a grade of 90.5.
The Cowboys will travel to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday to face the Eagles, where kickoff is scheduled for 3:25 p.m. (CT). ... and where a rookie defensive lineman intends on making Dallas "sweat.''
